Aussie Rookies Ed Sommerville and Benjamin Goedemans Join Four World Champions For A Freestyling Fesast n Singapore
Two rookies will join four world champions as Australia looks to stay in touch with the world in five of the most competitive men’s freestyle events ever swum in World Championship history in Singapore.
New faces Ed Sommerville and Benjamin Goedemans and the rising star Flynn Southam will join established world champions Kyle Chalmers, Cam McEvoy., Elijah Winnington and Sam Short in a seven-strong band of Dolphins freestylers.
Australia has been one of the dominant freestyle forces since the original “Superfish” Steve Holland won Australia’s first World Championship in Belgrade in 1973 – the start of what would see a flurry of another 22 Australian freestyle world titles from its men.
FIRST WORLD CHAMPION: Australis’s first world champion, Steve Holland, who won the 1500m freestyle in 1973. Photo Courtesy: Swimming World
The 400 freestyle has been its most successful with Olympic champions Kieren Perkins and the dynamic duo Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett untouchable between 1994 and 2005.
The Aussie men winning a total of seven world titles with Elijah Winnington (2022) and Sam Short (2023) joining Perkins (1994), Thorpe (1998, 2001 and 2003) and Hackett (2005).
Perkins and then Thorpe re-wrote the world record books in the 400m, with Hackett in a world of his own in the 1500m after dethroning “the King” Perkins in an Aussie onslaught that dominated world swimming for a decade.
Coming into Singapore Australia will carry seven individual freestylers into the five men’s events – led by Chalmers (100m free in 2023), McEvoy (50m free in 2023), Winnington and Short.
But enter the new faces with Queensland trio Sommerville and Southam in the 200m and Goedemans joining Short in the 800m and 1500m.
DYNAMIC DUO: Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe took freestyling to new heights between 1998 and 2005. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Australian Men’s Freestyle World Champions
1973 Steve Holland (1500m)
1994 Kieren Perkins (400m, 1500m)
1998 Michael Klim (200m)
1998 Ian Thorpe (400m)
1998 Grant Hackett (1500m)
2001 Ian Thorpe (200m, 400m, 800m)
2001 Grant Hackett (1500m)
2003 Ian Thorpe (200m 400m)
2003 Grant Hackett (800m, 1500m)
2005 Grant Hackett (400m, 800m, 1500m)
2011 James Magnussen (100m)
2013 James Magnussen (100m)
2022 Elijah Winnington (400m)
2023 Sam Short (400m)
2023 Kyle Chalmers (100m)
2023 Cam McEvoy) 50m
Six Australians who will make their World Long Course Debuts
SUB 15 CLUB: Benjamin Goedemans celebrates his first time under 15 minutes. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Benjamin Goedemans: Age; 21; Club: St Peters Western, QLD; Coach: Deam Boxall; Events: 800, 1500m freestyle
Story so far: Burst onto his first Australian team at this year’s June Trials after unleashing his wares at the Australian Open Championships in April. Comes into Singapore ranked 10th in the world in the 800m with his stirring 7:46.16 Trials swim and 16th in the 1500m, swimming under 15 minutes for just the second time with his 14: 52.99. Comes up against the best depth in world distance swimming history. as he joins Australia’s “next gen” distance group for 2028 and 2032.
FAST ED: Freestyling Ed Sommerville Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia Image/David Mariuz
Ed Sommerville: Age: 20; Club: Brisbane Grammar, QLD; Coach: Bobby Jovanovich; Events: 200m freestyle
Story so far: Sank five Olympians at the Aussie Trials to book his place on his first Long Course World Championship team for the 200m freestyle, rocketing up the world rankings with a huge personal best time of 1:44.73 – ranked fifth coming in with only Romanian Olympic champion David Popovici (1:43.64), US Trials winner Luke Hobson 1:43.73, Lukas Martens (Germany) 1:44.25 and Gabriel Jett (USA) 1:44.70, swimming faster. Fourth fastest Australian of all-time behind Ian Thorpe (1:44.06), Max Guiliani (144.79) and Clyde Lewis (1:44.90). Made his international debut at the 2024 World Short Course where he finished 9th in the 200m freestyle, missing the final by 0.03 – his best time would have seen Sommerville take bronze in the final.
LONG COURSE DEBUT: IMer David Schlicht on his first LC team. (Swimming Australia Image/David Mariuz)
David Schlicht: Age: 25; Club: MLC Aquatic, VIC; Coach: Jaydan Brian; Events: 200IM
Story so far: A much-travelled Victorian stalwart who has spent much of his career in the US Collegiate system with a celebrated NCAA career at the University of Arizona Wildcats before linking up with the Championship-winning Arizona State Sun Devils under world renown coach Bob Bowman and legendary French IMer Leon Marchand. After three World Short Course Championship teams in 2018, 2022 and 2024 Schlicht finally gets his chance on a Long Course team in 2025, listed 16th fastest qualifier.
MAKING A SPLASH: Harrison Turner certainly made a splash at the Australian Trials in the 200 fly Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
Harrison Turner: Age: 21; Club: Nudgee College, QLD; Coach: Shaun Crow; Events: 200m butterfly
Story so far: Has been knocking on the door through 2024-25 in an event that Australia has struggled in over recent times. Looked sharp at the Australian Open in April but knew he needed to crack a qualifying time which has been out of reach for his predecessors. But come race day at the Trials, “Harry” turned on the afterburners to clock his 1:54.90, the 10th fastest time of the year coming into World’s. Will have his sights set on the Australian record of 1:54.46 (set by Nick Darcy in 2009) – knowing that it will take a sub 1:54 to make the top eight. In best if hands under astute coach Shawn Crow. Made his international debut at the 2024 World Short Course, finishing 17th in the 200 fly. Has come a long way since.
NEW FACE: Butterflying affect Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
Jesse Coleman: Age: 20; Club: Bond, QLD; Coach: Chris Mooney; Events: 50, 100m freestyle
Story so far: Former Australian Age champion and record holder who sealed his place on his first Australian Open Team when he finished second in the 100m butterfly to dual Olympian Matt Temple – clocking 51.09 (16th in the world). This keen Gold Coast surfer has the chance of a lifetime to get his first taste of major international meet experience. Comes in ranked 28th in the 50 fly with just under half-a-second between 28thand 8th in one of the tightest fields of the meet and will look to swim his first sub 51.00 time to progress to the semi-finals.
IM ON TRACK: Will Petric. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
William Petric: Age: 20; Club: St Peters Western, QLD; Coach: Deam Boxall; Events: 200, 400IM
Story so far: Qualified for his first Olympic team in Paris from Victoria’s Nunawading Swimming Club before making the move to Australia’s premier club St Peters Western and head coach Dean Boxall, again qualifying for his first World Championship team in the 200 and 400 IM, sitting inside the top 16 in the world. And after a summer that featured a visit to the SPW training base from four-time Olympic champion and he world’s premier IMer in Leon Marchand. They’ll meet again in Singapore, with the young Australian knowing it will take a sub 1:57.00 (200IM) and a sub 4:10.00 (400IM) to progress.
